Nearby Theaters

Opened by the Gulf States Theaters June 1968, it was originally a single screen and became a twin in 1970. It was later expanded to a quad. It was later taken over by the United Artists circuit, which closed it around 2000.

After sitting vacant, it was reopened in 2004 as a discount cinema, but the new owners could not afford the repairs needed to reopen auditorium #1 (which had been the largest of the four). It closed for good in 2007.

The Southland Cinema was opened by Gulf State Theatres (Teddy Solomon) in June, 1968. It was the second building to go up (Sears was the first) in the mall. Acutally for the first many months the cinema was not enclosed in the mall, it was just a stand alone building next to Sears on the northwest corner. It was originally a SINGLE screen theatre which was expanded to a twin in 1970. Much later on it was converted to a quad. Jesse Marlowe was the original manager.

I was the original projectionist and ran the very first show ever screened which was El Dorado with John Wayne. The Southland Cinema was in a new mall (Southland Mall) directly across the bayou (Bayou Terrebonne) from the Houma Drivein. At that time there were tall trees and foilage so you couldn’t actually see the mall from the Drive In property. I left the Houma Drive in as projectionist to take the job at the Southland Cinema.

I worked at Southland Cinema back in the 70’s I was only 14 the summer I started working. Manager I remember was Herb Beasley.I worked concession and ticket booth. It was a great job, enjoyed the midnight movies.